are the party of lower taxes, are you going to refuse to cut people's taxes? >> listen, nobody wants to go over the cliff. that is why the day after the election i tried to speed this process up by making a concession to put revenues on the table. and it is unfortunate that the white house spent three weeks doing basically nothing. >> chris: you have been around this time, a long time and have been through a lot of negotiations. what is their game? what is their thinking as to how they will work -- well, they figure they won and they will get what they want? >> i have no idea, chris. if i knew, i would share it with you. i don't know what they are thinking. >> chris: do you think they are being bullies. >> i think they've won the election and must have forgotten republicans continue to hold a majority in the house. but, you know, the president's idea of a negotiation is, will they do what i ask. we need to find common ground and need to find it quickly. >> chris: and, again, you kind of didn't answer it the first time, what are the chances we'll go over the cl